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Research Skills

Qualitative/quantitative Research
Survey Experiments
Project Management
Data Visualization
Natural Language Processing
Data Mining
R/Qualtrics/Python/Stata

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Sunny Shao

My research focuses on mass behavior in Asian American politics. As the associate researcher at AAPI Data and Center for Social Innovation I have designed, programmed, and managed both quantitative and qualitative research projects. I am experienced in collaboration with various stakeholders and am familiar with every aspect of research projects.

Education

PhD. Candidate, Political Science

University of California

Riverside, CA

September 2016 - April 2021

  • Asian American Ethnic Politics & Social Media Study
  • [Dissertation] From Netizen to Citizen: Rethinking Asian American Political Mobilization

M.S., Public Policy

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA

September 2013 - June 2015

  • Focused on economics and local governance

B.A., International Communications

Nottingham University

Ningbo, China

September 2009 - June 2013

  • Focused on communication theory and public spheres on social media platforms

Research Experience

Researcher & Center Associate

Center for Social Innovation (UCR)

Riverside, CA

June 2018 - Current

  • Effectively communicate compelling data-driven narrative and explain work, process, and decisions to cross-functional stakeholders
  • Collaborate with other researchers, staff, project managers, organizations and government agencies to ensure research is coordinated into every aspect of the process
  • Manage both qualitative and quantitative research projects using Jira, Slack, and Basecamp

Researcher

AAPI Data

Riverside, CA

March 2017 - Current

  • Experienced in both qualitative and quantitative research such as focused group studies, interviews, and survey experiments
  • Build and maintain 1000+ of infographics, spatial data visualization, and data dashboard for both print and cloud-based products
  • Design, plan and lead 100+ Asian American research projects from start to finish

Summer Fellow

Education Pioneer

Los Angeles, CA

June 2016 - August 2016

  • Interviewed key stakeholders using in-person interviews and survey questionnaires to collect key concerns and challenges from teachers, students, principals, and program coordinators
  • Presented the final report to the School Board and successfully renewed the annual $500k budget to the programs
  • Designed research protocols and design principles for future program evaluations

Data Analyst Intern

SmartAnalyst

Gurgaon, India

June 2012 - August 2012

  • Interviewed thoracic oncologists in Japan and China for pharmaceutical clients, who are on phase II trials of non-small cell lung cancer drugs
  • Translated three-way phone meetings between client, SmartAnalyst and Chinese thoracic oncologists
  • Crowdsourced a list of thoracic oncologists through medical journals

Survey Projects & Focus Group Study

Focus Group Study - California Low Propensity Voter Engagement

Center for Social Innovation

N/A

July 2020 - August 2020

  • Lead Researcher & Chinese Focus Group Moderator

Quantitative Research - Asian American Voter Survey

AAPI Data, APIAVote & AAAJC

N/A

October 2018 - August 2020

  • Lead Researcher

Mix Method Survey - Inland Empire Non-profit/Civic Engagement

Center for Social Innovation

N/A

April 2019 - July 2020

  • Lead Researcher

Qualitative Research - Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Visibility Survey

AAPI Data

N/A

May 2018

  • Lead Researcher

Quantitatie Research - 2016 National Asian American Survey

AAPI Data

N/A

March 2017 - May 2017

  • Researcher

Data Tools Development

Geographic Profiles, Racial Data

R, ShinyApps, AWS

N/A

July 2019 - current

Community Facts, AAPI Data

R, ShinyApps, AWS

N/A

March 2018 - current

AAPI Quick Stats, AAPI Data

R, ShinyApps, AWS

N/A

June 2020 - November 2020

Mapping the Geography and Diversity of AAPI

R & ArcGIS

N/A

December 2019 - February 2020

QuickStats Data Dashboard

HTML

N/A

June 2017 - September 2017

Research Reports

APIA Vote: state Factsheets

APIA Vote & AAPI Data

N/A

July 2020

State of Nonprofit in the Inland Empire

Center for Social Innovation

N/A

April 2020

State of Civic Engagement in the Inland Empire

Center for Social Innovation

N/A

December 2019

State of Women in the Inland Empire

Center for Social Innovation

N/A

October 2019

State of Work in the Inland Empire

Center for Social Innovation

N/A

November 2018

Asian American Voter Survey Report

APALA, AAJC & AAPI Data

N/A

October 2018

Washing State Factsheet

Washington Conmission on Asian American Affairs

N/A

August 2018

State of Immigrant in the Inland Empire

Center for Social Innovation

N/A

April 2018

Blogpost Writting

Where Can AAPI Voters Have the Most Impact in November 2020?

Authored with Mai Do

N/A

November 2020

Understanding the Struggles of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Authored with Dr. Janelle Wong & Dr. Karthick Ramakrishnan

N/A

November 2019

The 116th Congress Will Have The Most AAPIs. Ever

Authored with Dr. Sono Shah

N/A

November 2018

Here’s what you need to know about AAPIs running for Congress in 2018

Authored with Dr. Sono Shah

N/A

October 2018

Record Gains in AAPI Voting Likely to Continue Through 2020

Authored with Dr. Sono Shah & Dr. Karthick Ramakrishnan

N/A

September 2018

There are Dozens of AAPIs Running for Congress This Year

Authored with Alton Wong

N/A

May 2018

Asian Ethnicity Data Helps Students, Saves Lives

English to Chinese translation

N/A

August 2017

Teaching & Workshop Experience

ArcGIS Lab

Center for Social Innovation

Riverside, CA

August 2020 - current

Analyzing ACS data with tidyverse and tidycensus R packages

Center for Social Innovation

Riverside, CA

March 2020 - July 2020

Data Analysis,Visualization and Social Entrepreneurship

SEED Lab

Riverside, CA

July 2018 - February 2020

Infographic Design with Adobe illustrator

AAPI Data

Riverside, CA

May 2019

Data Narrative Action (DNA): Data Visualization & Cesus Factfinder Tools

Social Innovation Institute

Riverside, CA

July 2018

Applied Econometrics & Microeconomics

School of Public Policy, Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA

September 2014 - June 2015

Selected Presentations & Invited Talks

Census Outreach and the Continuum of Civic Engagement

Politics of Race, Immigration, and Ethnicity Consortium

Riverside, CA

December 2019

Perceived Discrimination and Political Socialization of New Americans

Western Political Science Association

San Francisco, CA

June 2018

Perceived Discrimination and Political Socialization of New Americans

Midwestern Political Science Association

Chicago, IL

April 2018

How Perception of living experiences shape political enagement of Immigrants?

Politics of Race, Immigration, and Ethnicity Consortium

Irvine, CA

March 2017

2020 Census and Beyond: New Tool for AAPI Census Efforts

Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy

Virtual

July 2020

2018 and Beyond: Data, Narrative, and Action

Advancing Justice Conference

Atlanta, GA

March 2019

Resources for Engaging in the Debate Over Data Disaggregation

Association of Asian American Studies

San Francisco, CA

June 2018

Should Federal Government Mandate Vaccination for Children

RAND LA Policy Symposium

Santa Monica, CA

January 2015

Selected Press

Who are the Chinese Americans voting for Trump

The Spectator UK

N/A

October 2020

Grants and Awards

Coulter Foundation GSA Grant

N/A

N/A

March 2017 - current

Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society

N/A

Malibu, CA

May 2015 - current

2020 Rstudio conference Diversity Scholarship

N/A

San Francisco, CA

February 2020

UCR Dean’s Distinguished Fellowship

N/A

Riverside, CA

September 2016 - June 2017

Pepperdine Graduate School Scholarship Award

N/A

Malibu, CA

September 2013 - June 2015

Pepperdine Dean’s Distinguished Fellowship

N/A

Malibu, CA

June 2014 - September 2014